Delhi Approves January 2025 Cut-Off to Rehabilitate 20 Lakh Slum Residents
On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Delhi government approved the implementation of a revised cut-off date of January 1, 2025, under the Delhi Slum and JJ Cluster Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2026. The policy decision, which replaces the earlier cut-off date of January 1, 2015, aims to facilitate the transition of approximately 20 lakh people living in unauthorized jhuggi-jhopdi (JJ) clusters across the national capital of Delhi into permanent housing.
The landmark decision was finalized during a meeting of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, whose office subsequently released an official statement regarding the policy's implementation and its expected impact on the city's informal settlements.
According to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the adjustment of the cut-off date to January 1, 2025, will open the doors to permanent housing for around 4 to 5 lakh families currently residing in various JJ clusters across Delhi. Officials noted that while the implementation of the revised date has been formally approved by the board, the updated policy is yet to be officially notified.
Under the proposed rehabilitation projects, eligible families will be shifted from their current slum structures into newly constructed multi-storey flats. According to the government's statement, these new flats will be equipped with essential civic amenities to ensure a smooth transition to a permanent living environment.
Chief Minister Gupta emphasized that the government will make concerted efforts to rehabilitate the beneficiaries either within or near their existing settlements. This approach aligns directly with the Delhi government’s ongoing "Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan" scheme, which focuses on localized housing solutions.
Furthermore, the Delhi government is currently considering additional provisions to expand the scope of the rehabilitation framework. These new provisions would allow members of the same family who currently reside in separate units within a single slum structure to be included in the relocation benefits, subject to the payment of prescribed charges.
